Cracking the Code Episode 6: “Punched Out” - Eric Johnson, Eddie Van Halen, & Yngwie Malmsteen

➠ Join the Cracking the Code Community: troygrady.com/...
➠ Browse our products & free downloads: troygrady.com/...
➠ Head to the forum for questions!: forum.troygrad...
---
Episode Description:
The path of discovery is less a gradual slog than a punctuated equilibrium of sudden insights. A chance meeting of CPU and sound had turned a toy synthesizer into the ultimate musical x-ray. Like a glass-bottom boat, it opened a window on a world that had existed only in imagination.
But as the pile of data grew, so did the frustration. Peeling back the armor of the guitar colossi only revealed even more complex rigging underneath. Rock videos and record collections had failed to provide all the answers. And this felt like a defeat. But that's only because they had taken us as far as they could go. What we really needed now was a change of scenery.
Watch all Cracking the Code episodes here: troygrady.com/...
And explore the rest of the Cracking the Code site: troygrady.com

[@DookiedoohdahPRO]

14:15 How Id fight Yngwie: >pull out donut from back pocket >hold as how i’d show a crucifix to a vampire >see Yngwie melt before my eyes

[@Yonkybonkybaby]

His one weakness

[@compulsor5853]

WTH??-- I randomly landed on your channel an hour and a half ago- and have not stopped binge CONSUMING (as opposed to just binge watching), EXCELLENT work- ALL the way around: , presentation, graphics- all AV/ production values are top notch, but the most important, foundational part of all of this is your massive talent! Not just content to learn the rote methods, you blazed your own eTrail and were persistent, talented and clever enough to crack the code. Idk if you do all so this yourself (my suspicion, as you would seem to have a TOUCH of perfectionism😳), or if you have "people", whatever the case maybe: Great work, I wish you every success, and genuinely thank you for taking the time and effort to create and share these installments of your "Journey to Guitar Mastery™" with the great unwashed; and the fat-fingered amongst us (literally & figuratively). Best Regards

[@marcthacker4walls]

Ikr!

[@melvinlewiswellsjr.2619]

what he said!!!!😎😎😎❤❤❤❤🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎶🎶🎶🎶💯

[@bfitz6276]

Troy Grady is one of, if not- thee Best guitar instructors ever!!!

[@griiseknoen]

Not only is Troy a fountain of knowledge. He also manages to help and guide us viewers through and beyond the "Oh-my-God-I-will-never-be-able-to-play-this-I-might-as-well-give-up"-phase. Time and time again. Great teacher.

[@stepitupandgo67]

practice standing up kids....

[@themixmusicandmore6280]

Where's episode 2?

[@TheCrimsonIdol987]

So when are we going to get the code on Buckethead's picking? That's some ferocious picking, and I'd imagine that the video would be interesting because Bucket himself is an interesting fellow.

[@jakubturlinski7159]

I would expect to have Bucket's playing be put into Antigravity series - as an ex-Student of Paul Gilbert he must have learnt many Two-way Pickslanting licks. If I were I would go watch Paul Gilbert's Vinnie Moore's and Batio's right-hand technique analysi to have a head-start

[@seanspade]

Buckethead was heavily influenced by Al Di Meola

[@joshmuz9018]

Buckethead wanted to be Shawn Lane. So start at the source

[@RealWolfRanger]

The most amazing thing about Eddie Van Halen's playing in the 80's to me was how he was able to play with the amount of alcohol abuse he was doing at the time.

[@mdub2000]

It's amazing because after all these years you'd think that this focus in picking technique would be big in all schools of guitar flat picking but maybe its been the secret that most folks just kept to themselves or got without thinking over time. When i look at classical and flamenco players they put tons of attention on right hand technique especially the flamenco players who have boat loads of technique. Even the concept of clearing the nail at the slanted angle happens with flamenco technique which is why they can play fast with their fingers. Thanks Troy for opening this up to us...i went through everything you went through in the 80's and wish I knew about this way back then. I think the first time I even paid attention to the right hand was with micheal batio's video on speed and then you came out with this series and I realise its the key us wanna be shred heads had been missing :)

[@johntguitar]

The Lisa Lisa bit killed me. Totally forgot about that. lol Thanks for the history stroll. Great series of videos.

[@aliensporebomb]

Alex Moseley has a KZbin page where you can see how he shreds today. Guy can seriously play.

[@robertpierce7388]

The best, most interesting video series I have ever seen.

[@troygrady]

You're too kind, but thank you!

[@ontrakmerchantservices9984]

not many would get the Perry Mason reference at the intro, not to mention the '70's & '80's tv references throughout... but fun for us on the "inside"

[@theophany1770]

dude, I just laughed so hard! the part about your guitar strap failing and having to staple it and everyone walking out on you as you're fighting with your guitar, classic! dude these vids rock man, special thanks to Ben eller for turning me on to these.

[@KyleS.1987]

This series is really wonderfully structured. So much better than just jumping straight into pure mechanics. I can 100% relate to just feeling baffled by some outrageous solo--in my case, the first big one was John Petrucci's shared solo with guest vocalist Theresa Thomason on Live Scenes From New York. Even working for hours on exercises from his instructional DVD didn't get me close to that kind of speed, and it's only ten-plus years later that I'm starting to understand why.

[@troygrady]

Thanks Kyle! We always try to bring a little story into to the mix.

[@jimwoodard64]

We have to be about the same age! I had those same Star Wars sheets. I begged until my mom got those for me for Christmas one year.

[@rguitar87]

I just can't articulate how indebted I am to you, Troy. I've been stuck where you were, I think --moreover, I considered the amount pick slanting I naturally developed as poor technique. Recently, I began to seriously doubt myself. After sixteen years of playing, and thirteen years of mislead picking, your guidance has triggered a guitar renaissance --the adored EJ riffs that have crowded my mind for a decade are suddenly emerging with satisfying progress. I don't want to stop playing now. I am still looking around, but I'll definitely be following up with one of your full length presentations. Thanks!

[@troygrady]

+rguitar87 Awesome! Glad to hear it.

[@mattyoxide3650]

Dude. That there's the story of my life.

[@scottybee33]

OMG, I'm so addictied b/c this is the story of my Guitar Playing life too. Until Guitar for the Practicing Musician came out in the late '80s there were NO tabs. Only what our circle of friends could figure out by ear and share... God, I hope to learn what's been ailing me all these years...and fix it.

[@troygrady]

Yep, it's just amazing the wealth of information that's available now. I like to romanticize the good old days, but we do have it better now. Someone interviewed Les Paul once about recording technology, and he was like: Don't kid yourselves about tape, if we had digital back in the day, we would have used it!

[@juanstor1]

The Plane...The Plane! Love the reference to Fantasy Island. You truly are a creature of the 80s Troy lol

[@frmrchristian8488]

Love all of these episodes, Man! Just cannot wrap my head around the "Richard Marx" T-shirt! Dude!

[@bodd66]

Hey Troy I love these episodes ha! We're around the same age & I went through exactly what you did back in the 80's. Don't worry about the amount of likes so far...Cracking the Code is going to BLOW UP!!! : )

[@astrostl]

"In the realm of improbably-great guitar, Lisa Lisa was particularly demoralizing" lolololol

[@pbissell1]

Wonderful musical/technical confessional that matches so many of us. Sax = Duran Duran's "Rio" solo is a notable omission. :)

[@mwilkie1982]

This guy lives my life. Epic. I'm not alone!

[@RyanTaylor4real]

This is exactly what happened to me! When I was 16 and 17 I bought the Guitar Methods Van Halen video and the Speed Kills Michael Angelo Batio video. I could play most of the riffs really well but something was keeping me from being able to shred consistently at will... It's amazing how much work and dedication a person can put into this instrument and never arrive! The learning continues...

[@GusZiliotto]

Awesome series!

[@troygrady]

Thanks gus!

[@theintuitiveguitaristfrank9202]

Troy Grady this is your music and guitar playing --?- the perry mason stuff ... ??? All of it right ???

[@johnwardle9667]

This is sooooo gooood! That 80s sound is just the best. This is a masterpiece of a journey. And I'm still on it in 2022, age 37.

[@Bigbazz86]

The amount of work and production put into these videos is incredible. Also, that "magic gone" thing I suffer from all the time. I make a lot of progress and I'm ripping up the fretboard and the next day i'm like a clumbsy oaf and I have to re-learn it all and reprogress constantly. Very frustrating, because the difference on a day to day can be huge sometimes.

[@zimbob68]

I can identify with these videos intimately. Wish I had the work ethic you put into this. I still work at it in a long term persistence but really good videos man. Hats off to you.

[@troygrady]

Jim Frye The whole point of what we're doing is to try and shorten that time commitment for everyone as much as possible. The first episode of Season 2, which we just released is going to add a powerful technique to the mix that should help.

[@Mythki11er]

Gotta love the sax

[@krushgroovin7513]

I just wanna say this is about the tenth time I’m watching this series!! It Never gets old...just better every time!!

[@xblackb0x]

thank you for this video! When you talked about on and off days it really struck a chord with me. In the past i've thought that there was something wrong with me because of the inconsistency.

[@sole__doubt]

Love the Perry Mason lick.

[@BFoltyn7]

Priceless production, and golden nuggets throughout...great info!! :)

[@MrJetplanemusic]

I love that little nod to the "Perry Mason" theme at the beginning.

[@theophany1770]

Troy you are an awesome teacher, I can relate to so much of this!

[@Jessyco]

Ahhh..... all of your videos are more than amazing. Honestly thank you!

[@troygrady]

Awesome, and thanks for watching!

[@viruscerbero]

Man, you have created something really outstanding with this series... they are so addictive. One just can not avoid to identify with you and the stories. All of this is so honest and enlightening... Just amazing, man. Thanks, a lot!

[@troygrady]

Cool, thanks! We try to bring a little story to the education, indeed.

[@stopthehate1749]

Man you are really taking me back! I had Metal Method, those Guitar Player mags with the "Flexi Disc" (including Fun Ranch Frolics and MY favorite... The Sustainiac Sustain System: wee-eee-eee-eee lol) , same albums, the Boss HM2, etc. And yes, back then there was room for guitar heroics in even the most mainstream pop songs. (something sadly missing in today's anti rock/guitar pop music) You even gave props to Lisa Lisa! "All Cried Out" was one of my favorite songs (I grew up in Spanish Harlem and Lisa Lisa was legendary at that time)- and featured a very cool solo. Kudos to you - you should win a Emmy award for this!

[@Deadite8593]

I stumbled across this video series the other day, and I have to say I'm very impressed. Your attention to detail, enthusiasm, and overall presentation has me glued to the screen. Well done Troy! You are an awesome player, and these videos are both informative and entertaining.

[@ironbeast6]

You are inspiting me to delve into Yngwie, EVH, EJ when I have been focused on Petrucci, Skolnick, Jake E Lee, Gilbert. I think you can learn different things from every one of them. Great great series!

[@___and_memes_for_all]

Jake E Lee is kickass

[@kevinprowse406]

Ahh the Greatest American Hero! One of my faves as a kid. Yeah, I'm old.

[@philb9521]

This whole series should be required learning for EVERY player who wants to play with speed

[@r.n6775]

Great series, very well done! Brought me back through my adolescent musical experience, it's great to see it represented this way!

[@JDP99999]

Excellent Work! You learning adventures remind me a lot of my own guitar pursuit! High quality stuff!!!!

[@troygrady]

Thanks man! Indeed, we were all a little bit Indiana Jones and the Guitar Crusade back then, weren't we?

[@JamBear]

Eric Johnson is one of my favorite guitarists, and I've learned a lot about making my guitar sound completely different from him.

[@sdapps-cw3cn]

I honestly don't know this man doesn't have several million subscribers, he deserves em

[@johnmullis1156]

Never noticed most of this stuff except Eddies solo in beat it.

[@christiansectas]

Your videos have truly enlightened me, and I truly appreciate all that you do musically and video speaking for all of us, You have no idea how related I feel to all of your videos, but I have to say that this has been my favorite...Thanks again and I'm a fan!!!

[@troygrady]

Thanks Christian!

[@stepitupandgo67]

I have lived this...but troy articulates it all perfectly....

[@benkelly9295]

I have that same Star Wars pillow at 5:45

[@siddern]

Absolutely fantastic series!

[@whoohaaXL]

Farmingdale? No shit! I grew up in Shirley, then Woodbury, and had relatives in Oakdale and Farmingdale! 11.25 Ugh... Isn't that a variation on the Paul Gilbert lick that Andy is playing?.....Seriously though, this has helped me to be a WAY better player than I was. I can now play things I didn't think I was capable of....simply because of your insight into picking technique. After playing for 15 years on and off, and being stuck in a rut, this brought me out....WAY out. Thanks a million, Troy!

[@blkspade23]

What you said about hearing guitar solos in surprising places seems to be happening today even in R&B songs. Someone put a Rihanna song on in a bar "Skin" that surprised me, then I find there are solos in a few of her songs.

[@FeelingShred]

Stacey Bright Nuno Bettencourt is/was playing with Rihanna

[@lifedeath7]

Wow, really amazing series. Glad I found it, thanks a million. Top notch graphics and production too.

[@TrebleMidBass]

I love richard marx!

[@jakecanter_]

6:18 The first thing I thought was OMG BUCKETHEAD but nope, it was a lampshade

[@leadriff126]

Man, who did a the graphics and editing in all your videos?! Incredible!!!!!!!

[@metallicblood]

"Sometimes, replacing a broken [what?] with a trashbag is just so quick and easy, you forget, what a bad idea it really is."

[@imsiepimsie]

Who made all the animations, Troy Grady?

[@TheWjhoward07]

Very informative and hilariously entertaining as well. Keep em coming brother. A definite must watch for anyone who takes their playing seriously and desires to go to the next level. Great job!

[@troygrady]

Thanks man! We'll be going deeper into the actual mechanics of the speedy/accuracy side of things as soon the next batch of episodes rolls out.

[@claudrocker]

Troy, you make my day with this material. I can't stop watch this \m/

[@JedWunderli]

How long does it take you to make these videos? It's amazing the amount of production you have put into them. Great information and great analysis.

[@kelvinpanesar6511]

+Jed Wunderli Don't you love how EJ actually does the major ass kicking towards the end of the video??? Love it!!

[@cptnoremac]

There's a team of people who do the videos. There's an upload about them on the channel somewhere.

[@kylebuckles2692]

Ok...so i'm on the 6th video. It's a friday afternoon and because of you I have not gotten ANYTHING done at work..hahahahaha. That's a compliment. So good I can't stop watching. :)

[@troygrady]

No problem, If you need us to sign a note for your boss, just let us know!

[@reaganbrowne6373]

Thanks man! Glad you dig the song. Got some other cool cats like Marty Friedman, Billy Sheehan, and Phil X on the rest of the record. Maybe EVH as well if I'm lucky! :)

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Love these so much! Thanks Troy and team. Best, Daniel

[@avinashsaravanan5147]

Hi Troy, I really like this series, but would enjoy it more if it were possible to know the names of all the snippets of different songs you've included in your videos. As an undergraduate Junior who started playing the electric guitar after graduating high school, a lot of the stuff in this series is very similar to what I'm going through right now, but I haven't exactly lived during the decade, making some of the hits a completely new experience for me. Currently, I'm trying to get some of Shawn Lane's stuff down, but the stretches and speed of his licks requires a firm grasp of the fundamentals (and some immunity to what I imagine will lead to a future of carpal tunnel and arthritis). A need to advance to more complex techniques makes videos like this very useful to me as I find myself going back to them as I develop. Thanks for making this series and keep up the good work!

[@upsidedowntruth]

Awesome videos. I've been playing for a long time and have always had issues with my descending picking. I think your videos will help. I just need to see if I can do some of it. I never thought about picking and string hopping like this. Wish I had these videos 25 years ago. Thanks...

[@kelvinpanesar6511]

+Ron Regalado If we had these videos and lessons 25 years ago, mankind would be branching out to different solar systems and galaxies by now. Who knows, I could have cool for once in my lifetime!! Oh well better late than never. BTW, Troy, thanks for your dedication, you actually made playing guitar fun for me again!!!!

[@TheWolvesCurse]

dude! your videos are awesome! great animation, editing, sound, everything!! i wonde why you don't have more subs and views. this is just great.

[@eliwirth1938]

Where did you find that version of The Greatest American Hero theme? Or did you record that yourself? I love the sound and I’m having trouble finding it anywhere

[@chrischoir3594]

Hi Troy, @ 1:10 what Billy Joel song is that? thanks

[@enispenvy9174]

Chris Choir Billy The Kid

[@brosefmcman8264]

This video series is amazing. Thank you!

[@heatwithoutlight]

so glad I stumbled across your channel Troy, you have such an engaging enthusiasm for all things guitar, makes me want to pick up my Ibanez and start practicing again! BTW do you have any plans to dissect 'Free' by Vinnie Moore? I think it would make a great subject for a case study, cheers.

[@elephantricity]

You didn't mention how Eric Johnson's groups of 5's are actually used using economy picking. This is probably why you had a hard time with them.

[@troygrady]

Shhhh -- don't tell anyone! Just kidding, and you are correct. We'll see this in the next episode which should be out soon.

[@Fauna]

I'll come back for this so saving it here: panama solo lick is at 13:29

[@The1macc1]

Great job! This is too weird though..I grew up near Farmingdale about the same time. Don't tell me you worked at the Foodtown and took lessons at Focus II.

[@DanBrough]

So how does Eric Johnson play those five note pentatonics ? Couldn't quite make out the slowed down part. Starts every five notes on a down-stroke ?

[@zzebowa]

Yngwies 4 note pentatonic lick is not so different from Pages in Communication Breakdown at the start of the solo. :)

[@robbiegarnz7732]

Dude this is so spot on!!

[@jacobritchie1329]

The magic would be gone, 25 years of that feeling lol

[@pedcie]

did u play the piano in the intro credits?? its amazing!! hope u know im watching all the way from malaysia! awesome Mr Troy! 80s forever!

[@moegas100]

dude this is so fucking me!!! i love this!!

[@dzabaleban007]

Boss HM-2 my first distortion pedal

[@moegas100]

grew up in jersey same time. so dam funny!!

[@GabrielGonzalez-vg6gk]

subtitles, please!!! you've done a great job, is awesome and very interesting!!

[@WelshmanCatweezil]

totally Banzai dooode... as Rick Neilsen would say.. " everything works if you let it".. good fun :}

[@massacrationable]

5:30 they talk about my first world problems 😂

[@mdub2000]

hilarious i had that elastic guitar strap...thought it was so cool but then i had the same problems as him...i didn't staple it i just dumped it and learned my lesson never to get one of those damn things again lol

[@troygrady]

Please get in your DeLorean time machine and go back and tell me to do the same thing! What a waste of time that thing was.

[@mdub2000]

lol Hilarious....wish i could tell myself as well....pretty cool to have you reply Troy....Your like the saviour for folks like me .... guitar companies should be thanking you if not paying you because i'm sure you've brought a lot of us back into playing again...practicing again....so it's a real pleasure to even get a sentence back from you...by the way would you ever interview Pat Martino or even George Benson to come in and talk about their technique.

[@sgtpeeper68]

Around 1983, my parents bought me a nice, wide leather strap to go with the new Les Paul copy they got me for getting into the national junior honor society. To this day, it's the only strap I use. Still own the LP copy, too!

[@swaggypanda1808]

What's the solo that Eddie plays in the punch-out?

[@Spleenmusicalcom]

Superbe série, du très bon boulot, par contre il manque l'option de traduction sur l'épisode 6. bonne continuation

[@luchoreds]

Keep the good work man, greetings from Perú

[@troygrady]

Awesome. Gracias por mirar nuestro show!

[@adolfohuet3974]

Damped harmonic oscillator problem at 15:26. You're welcome.

[@lect0n7]

Okay Troy, I've been watching a lot of your stuff for the last couple days now, it's great...but I got one for ya...watch Eddie Money - Take me home tonight official music video & watch close...you'll see Eddie Money play AIR GUITAR ON HIS SAXOPHONE!! & as a side note, I laughed my ass off when I saw the ending of the first episode of "Cracking the Code" last night when you heard the Yngwie song for the first time...same thing happened to me except it was "I'll See the Light Tonight", not "Now your ships are burned"...

[@EBP_rehab_performance]

Hi Troy, I'm looking for the video in which you break down how eric johnson uses the pentatonic scale to move horizontally versus moving vertically. Which video is this in?

[@mwilkie1982]

Yes! Long Island!

[@stepitupandgo67]

loving it...

[@vidmachine]

The Rhythm tone at 4:46 is unreal! Anyone know what amp/model it is?

[@troygrady]

Cornford Hellcat, it’s our main rig. I think that was the Les Paul though, not the guitar pictured. The Paul has that 590T very high output pickup so it’s even more saturated.

[@vidmachine]

Troy Grady What alt picking technique would work best for the fast alternate picked section of the intro of Diary of a Madman? I can’t figure it out without string hopping. Tried inside and outside picking.

[@melvinlewiswellsjr.2619]

loved the "on" days....the "off" days not so much😎🥵🥶🥵🥶🥵🥶

[@seggbert9243]

great!

[@Cavemaaaan]

Yup, the stealin-sax. No prob with that.

[@rickhaughton4285]

Amazing Videos man.

[@troygrady]

Just glad you dig them! We'll keep doing 'em.